Proverbs 4:17
"For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

For they eat the bread of wickedness,.... Either that is gotten by wicked and unlawful means, or wickedness itself is bread unto them; it is that to their minds as

bread is to their bodies; they feed upon it with as much eagerness, appetite, gust, and pleasure; it is a sweet morsel to them; it is meat, drink, sleep, and everything to them; they take the highest satisfaction and the utmost delight in it; and drink the wine of violence: either that which is obtained by rapine and violence; or they as greedily commit such acts of oppression and injury as a man drinks a glass of wine; they do not drink up iniquity like water only, but even like wine, the most generous and delicious. Wherefore all society with such men should be avoided.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (7 words)

H3588 כִּי
Definition:

Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic, Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic,

Possible Meanings:
  • for (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
H3898 לָחַם
Definition:

A primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction) -- devour, eat, X ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).Brown-Driver-BriggsI. [לָחַ A primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction) -- devour, eat, X ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).Brown-Driver-BriggsI. [לָחַ

Possible Meanings:
  • feast (semantic_range)
H3899 לֶחֶם
Definition:

7and (rarely)feminineGenesis 49:20(see below, and Dr1Samuel 10:4)bread, food(Phoenicianלחםbread; Late Hebrewלֶחֶם; Aramaicלַחְמָא,, as Hebrew; Arabicflesh, meat, (compare Frä30)); — absolute׳לGenesis 7and (rarely)feminineGenesis 49:20(see below, and Dr1Samuel 10:4)bread, food(Phoenicianלחםbread; Late Hebrewלֶחֶם; Aramaicלַחְמָא,, as Hebrew; Arabicflesh, meat, (compare Frä30)); — absolute׳לGenesis

Possible Meanings:
  • feast (semantic_range)
H7562 רֶשַׁע
Definition:

14wickedness; — absolute׳רMicah 6:10+,רָ֑שַׁעEcclesiastes 3:16; construct (perhaps)רֶ֫שַׁעEcclesiastes 7:25;רִשְׁעוֺDeuteronomy 9:27+, etc.; —1wickedness, asviolence and crime against civil lawEcclesi 14wickedness; — absolute׳רMicah 6:10+,רָ֑שַׁעEcclesiastes 3:16; construct (perhaps)רֶ֫שַׁעEcclesiastes 7:25;רִשְׁעוֺDeuteronomy 9:27+, etc.; —1wickedness, asviolence and crime against civil lawEcclesi

Possible Meanings:
  • be wicked (semantic_range)
  • act wickedly (semantic_range)
  • be wicked (semantic_range)
  • act wickedly (semantic_range)
  • be guilty (semantic_range)
H3196 יַיִן
Definition:

9wine(Late Hebrewid.; Ethiopic:vitis, vinea, vinum; Arabic(black)grapes, see HomZMG 1889, 654; Sabeanויןvineyard, MordtZMG 1887, 364Homl.c. 659(both after Glaser); Assyrianinuin vocabularies, but this 9wine(Late Hebrewid.; Ethiopic:vitis, vinea, vinum; Arabic(black)grapes, see HomZMG 1889, 654; Sabeanויןvineyard, MordtZMG 1887, 364Homl.c. 659(both after Glaser); Assyrianinuin vocabularies, but this

H2555 חָמָס
Definition:

17violence, wrong— absolute׳חGenesis 6:11+ 44 t.; constructחֲמַסJudges 9:247t.; suffixחֲמָסִיGenesis 16:5;Jeremiah 51:35(in both = wrongdone to me);חֲמָסוֺPsalm 7:17; pluralחֲמָסִים2 Samuel 22:493t.; 17violence, wrong— absolute׳חGenesis 6:11+ 44 t.; constructחֲמַסJudges 9:247t.; suffixחֲמָסִיGenesis 16:5;Jeremiah 51:35(in both = wrongdone to me);חֲמָסוֺPsalm 7:17; pluralחֲמָסִים2 Samuel 22:493t.;

H8354 שָׁתָה
Definition:

28+, 1 singularשָׁתִ֫יתִי1 Samuel 1:15+, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיִשְׁתֶּהGenesis 44:5+,וַיִּשְׁתֶּה1 Kings 19:8, usuallyוַיֵּשְׁתְּGenesis 9:21+; jussiveוְיֵשְׁתְּ1 Kings 13:18; 3feminine si 28+, 1 singularשָׁתִ֫יתִי1 Samuel 1:15+, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיִשְׁתֶּהGenesis 44:5+,וַיִּשְׁתֶּה1 Kings 19:8, usuallyוַיֵּשְׁתְּGenesis 9:21+; jussiveוְיֵשְׁתְּ1 Kings 13:18; 3feminine si

Possible Meanings:
  • drink (semantic_range)

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